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Hi, I'm looking to buy a straight razor and don't know where I'd be able to get one in my city (Edmonton, Canada). I'd prefer to buy one in person instead of ordering online.
What types of stores sell razors? I tried Walmart haha, but all they had were the typical Gilette, Shick ones...
Perhaps some beauty supply stores (they'll probably have only the replacement blade style), but your best bet is an antique store.
Sometimes tobacco stores will carry straights, brushes, and/or soaps. I was pretty surprised, but my local smoke shop carries some stuff and so did one I stopped in in Santa Fe when visiting my mom. Those are the only smoke shops I've been in recently, but I figure two out of two may indicate a trend (not very scientific of me...)
Yeppers Tobacconists and every now and then you will see a Dovo or TI at a specialty cutlery shop....
Watch the brands too, you will find some of the Chinese and Pakistani crap out there too, so be very careful if it isn't a Dovo or TI, I would steer clear on new razors....
I would not buy one there though, go look and touch, but buy it through one of the SRP vendors, the price and selection is way, way, better, strops too....
At one of the Tucson malls there is a knife shop which sells some new staight razors, soaps and strops. The razors look cheap and although the tangs are stamped "Solingen", my gut feeling is that they are not. The blades are gold washed and the etches say things like "First Class". The price range is in the $40's, so I hardly think they are made by Dovo. The soaps are Col. Conk and the strops are marked Illinois.
If you have an Amish community anywhere near you, some of the Amish shops will carry straights.
What store was that? And did they say why you couldn't handle them?Quote:
Originally Posted by crushnbugs
Knifewear in Calgary and Kelowna used to, probably still do, sharpen and sell kamisori razors.
Any good shopping in Taipei or Taichung Jake?
BLUF: The Art of Shaving type chain stores can provide all the materials you need to start, but there are significant cons in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulliu2000
I know that it has been mentioned in other threads, but The Art of Shaving is spreading across the country. This is where my wife bought my first razor set. This was less than a month ago so please don't take me for one of the knowledgeable salty veterans on this site. What I can provide is the experience of a novice using one of these types of chain shaving stores (I don't think AoS is in Canada, but there might be a similar chain). I assume you and I are in the same boat and you can learn from my experience.
Pros:
- The stores are classy and the staff are genuinely helpful.
- They were able to demonstrate how to use all their products.
- They have everything you need. No need to make multiple purchases from multiple people in classified ads to get a full set.
- Their give a **** factor for you doesn't end at the purchase. I feel confident that I can return to the store and ask questions and have them answered. (This may just be the personnel from my chain).
Cons:
- They sell what I think are overpriced shaving items. Again, lack of experience on my part, but you can get very nice razors in the classifieds on this site for much cheaper than at the store.
- My razor was not shave ready. Scraping hair off your forearm is much different than cutting hair off your chin. Being a novice it was frustrating to me because I was not prepared to jump into honing (still am not but this site provided a great deal of information). I wish I would have trusted my gut and purchased a shave ready razor from a classified listing, either here or somewhere else. I think that this was my biggest mistake for you to learn from.
- They know how to sell and use the equipment in their store, but beyond that they lack experience. Just by browsing the forums here, I was more knowledgeable about basic maintenance and care than they were.
To wrap it up, as a novice the store was very helpful in having an actual person to communicate with. Even on forums like these, the time lag in getting questions answered can be frustrating. I would recommend purchasing a shaving kit from one of these stores except the razor. Starting out with a razor that was not shave ready was frustratingly painful in more ways than one. I stuck through it, did research here and Youtube, bought honing/flattening stones (wife not pleased), practiced, and managed to hone my razor without ruining it...I think. If you buy a shave ready razor from a person who knows how to hone, you will be better off than I was/am. As a side note, most beauty supply stores and drugstores will sell disposable blade straight razors for round $10-$20 (these are the ones that many of the barbers in the States are now using, but not what I was looking for). I hope that this information is helpful to you.
Very Respectfully,
Chase
(Silent Service)
Just as a note here from a Mod :)
You guys realize that you are answering questions from over 4 years ago right ???? I would hope that they have made their decisions long ago...
Nothing wrong with digging out old threads to find answers and ask questions, we like that on SRP
This is a great write up, you saved me the time of going to the store.
I'm still researching for my razor and start up kit. Thanks for the very useful information.
BTW are your squid?
Good point Glen. I was going to suggest a couple places to go to my fellow Edmontonian until I realized those shops didn't exist 4 years ago :pQuote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
Yup, I would sure hope that he found something since then lol
I just came back from the art of shaving store. A little to fancy for me. I asked to see there straight razors and they didn't have any? They said they wouldn't have for awhile, all sold out. Odd
I guess I will stick to online.
Thanks for the feedback about the Art of Shaving stores. I checked and there are about a half dozen of them here. I'll check them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by VamosUnited
If you are still looking I bought my first straight at a large cutlery store in a mall in Florida. Decent selections. A lot of Soligens that I can remember. I picked up a Merkur. Decent little shaver once the bevel was set.
This store carries mostly knives and kitchen specialty items. Very interesting to browse through.